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Two forecourt staff members have been praised for their courage after rushing to the aid of a woman who poured petrol over her head and set herself on fire at a petrol station in Hampshire.

The horrific incident occurred on Sunday morning at the BP filling station in Northern Road, Cosham.

Staff and passers by rushed to the aid of the 53-year-old woman and managed to put out the flames using a fire extinguisher.

A passing ambulance crew happened to be stuck in traffic by the garage and were also able to provide critical care moments later.

The woman, who has not been officially identified, was rushed to nearby Queen Alexandra Hospital, in Cosham, but Hampshire Police later confirmed she died.

A police spokeswoman said: “We were called at 10.35am on November 1 to a report of a concern for welfare for a woman at the Cosham filling station in Northern Road, Portsmouth.

“The 53-year-old woman was taken to hospital with serious burns. We can now confirm that she has sadly died in hospital.

“Her next of kin have been informed and are being supported. The death is not being treated as suspicious.”

The actions of two staff at the site together with another man who rushed to the woman’s aid were praised.

The man reached her first and tried to put out the fire before the two workers from the garage carrying fire extinguishers were able to put out the flames on the woman and a small fire near the petrol pump.

A spokesman from South Central Ambulance Service praised the “swift actions” of the trio as “courageous”.

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